Application user interface systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An exemplary method includes a user computing device 1) executing a software application having primary, secondary, and tertiary menu levels, and 2) providing, for display as directed by the software application, a graphical user interface view that includes a first navigation control section in the form of a footer bar mapped to the primary menu level, a second navigation control section in the form of a header bar mapped to the secondary menu level, and a third navigation control section positioned between the footer bar and the header bar and mapped to the tertiary menu level. In some embodiments, the footer bar includes a slidable segment associated with selectable menu options included in a primary menu level application menu, and a fixed segment associated with a persistent selectable link to an additional software application included in a suite of software applications. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Advances in computing technologies have provided users of computingdevices with access to a variety of computing tools. To illustrate,increased capabilities of computing devices such as mobile smart phonesand tablet computers have allowed users of the devices to access and usea variety of software applications that have been developed for thecomputing devices. As such devices have become popular, an increasednumber of software applications (e.g., software applications commonlyreferred to as “mobile apps” or “apps”) have been developed and madeavailable to users of the devices.

Such advances in computing technologies have challenged designers ofuser interfaces for computing devices such as mobile smart phones andtablet computers. A common challenge has been to design and implementuser interfaces that provide an appropriate balance of information,usability, intuitiveness, control, and functionality that promotes aquality user experience. While user interface technologies have madesignificant advances in this regard, there remains room for improvement.For instance, there remains room to improve the intuitiveness,convenience, flexibility, and/or usability of user interfaces that aredesigned to be used by a user of a mobile computing device to control,access, navigate, or otherwise manage or use software applicationsrunning on the computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments and are a partof the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examplesand do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings,identical or similar reference numbers designate identical or similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary suite of discrete software applicationsaccording to principles described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary implementation of the suite of softwareapplications shown in FIG. 1 according to principles described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computing system according to principlesdescribed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary application menu hierarchy andapplication user interface module of a software application according toprinciples described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary application graphical user interfaceframework according to principles described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary graphics displayed within the exemplaryapplication graphical user interface framework of FIG. 5 according toprinciples described herein.

FIGS. 7-11 illustrate exemplary graphical user interface views accordingto principles described herein.

FIGS. 12-13 illustrate exemplary application user interface methodsaccording to principles described herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary computing device according toprinciples described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary application user interface systems and methods are disclosedherein. The exemplary systems and methods described herein may provideone or more application user interfaces configured to facilitate userinteraction with one or more software applications (e.g., softwareapplications included in a suite of software applications) executing onor otherwise being accessed by a user computing device.

In certain embodiments, an application user interface provided by theexemplary systems and methods described herein may include a graphicaluser interface (“GUI”) that is provided by a user computing device fordisplay as directed by a software application being executed by the usercomputing device. The GUI may provide a user of the user computingdevice with one or more user interface elements configured to facilitateconvenient, intuitive, and/or user-friendly navigation within thesoftware application and/or across software applications included in asuite of software applications. Within a context of a suite of softwareapplications, each software application may be configured to direct acomputing device to provide a GUI, and the set of GUIs provided by thesoftware applications included in the suite may be uniform in that theGUIs may provide consistent user interface frameworks, element layouts,menu displays, etc. that are configured to facilitate a uniform,intuitive, convenient, and/or user-friendly user experience across thesuite of software applications, including in any of the ways describedherein.

These and/or other features and benefits that may be provided by thedisclosed exemplary systems and methods will be made apparent herein.Examples of application user interface systems and methods, as well asexamples of a GUI framework and GUI views provided by the systems andmethods will now be described in reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary suite 100 of discrete softwareapplications 102 (e.g., software applications 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, and102-4) that include application user interface modules 104 (e.g.,application user interface modules 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, and 104-4,respectively) integrated therein. Software applications 102 may bediscrete in that each software application 102 may be independentlyaccessed by a user computing device, which access may include the usercomputing device downloading, installing, and/or executing each softwareapplication 102.

Software applications 102 may be a suite of software applications forone or more reasons. For example, software applications 102 may be asuite in that the software applications 102 are developed by a singledeveloper such as a provider of media content and/or communicationsservices. As another example, software applications 102 may be a suitein that software applications 102 are configured to communicate one withanother and/or to seamlessly exchange data one with another. As anotherexample, software applications 102 may be a suite in that each softwareapplication 102 implements functionality for linking to one or more ofthe other software applications 102 in the suite. As another example,applications 102 may be a suite in that the software applications 102implement functionality for providing uniform user interfaces that shareattributes (e.g., layout, framework, functionality, etc.) configured tofacilitate a consistent user experience across the suite of softwareapplications 102.

In certain examples, software applications 102 included in suite 100 maybe organized relative to one another such that one of the softwareapplications 102 in suite 100 is an “umbrella” application configured toprovide links to the other software applications 102 included in suite100. The other software applications 102 in suite 100 may be referred toas “destination” applications and may provide links back to the“umbrella” application.

For example, “umbrella” software application 102-1 may provide links to“destination” software applications 102-2, 102-3, and 102-4, which mayprovide links back to “umbrella” software application 102-1. The linksbetween software application 102-1 and software applications 102-2,102-3, and 102-4 are represented by arrows 106-1, 106-2, and 106-3,respectively, in FIG. 1. Software applications 102 may employ anysuitable technologies for linking one to another.

In certain examples, software applications 102 included in suite 100 maybe provided (e.g., developed and/or published) by a single serviceprovider. For example, a service provider that provides one or moreservices, such as, but not limited to, a media delivery service (e.g., avideo-on-demand service, a linear television service, a subscriptionmedia service such as a subscriber television service), a homemonitoring and control service, a cloud-based data storage service, asubscription account management service, one or more communicationsservices (e.g., a short messaging service, a media messaging service, avoice call service, an e-mail service, a voicemail service, a chatservice, etc.), or any packaged combination or sub-combination thereofmay provide the software applications in relation to one or more of theservices.

To illustrate, in one embodiment, software application 102-1 maycomprise an “umbrella” service application providing links to othersoftware applications 102-2 through 102-4 included in suite 100,software application 102-2 may comprise a media manager application thatprovides a user with functionality for managing media content (e.g.,media managed by way of a cloud-based data storage service), softwareapplication 102-3 may comprise a mobile remote control application(e.g., a set-top box (“STB”) and/or digital video recorder (“DVR”)remote control application) that provides a user with functionality forremotely controlling one or more CE devices, and software application102-4 may comprise a home control application that provides a user withfunctionality for remotely monitoring and controlling a home (e.g., formonitoring and controlling a security system, a camera, etc. located ata home). An example of such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2 inwhich an implementation 200 of suite 100 of software applications 102includes a “my service” application 102-1, a “media manager” application102-2, a “remote DVR” application 102-3, and a “home control”application 102-4.

To provide users with opportunity to access software applications 102included in suite 100, a developer or other entity may publish thesoftware applications 102 to an application server subsystem configuredto distribute the software applications 102 to one or more usercomputing devices for installation and execution on the user computingdevices. To illustrate, FIG. 3 shows an exemplary computing system 300that includes an application server subsystem 302 to which softwareapplications 102 may be published.

As shown in FIG. 3, computing system 300 may include application serversubsystem 302 and a user computing device 304 configured to communicatewith one another by way of a network 306. While FIG. 3 illustrates asingle user computing device 304, this is for illustrative purposesonly. Application server subsystem 304 may be configured to distributesoftware applications 102 to any number of user computing devices overnetwork 306.

Application server subsystem 302 may include or be implemented by one ormore server-side computing devices controlled by (e.g., operated by) oneor more service providers such as one or more software applicationservice providers. User computing device 304 may include or beimplemented by one or more client-side computing devices controlled by(e.g., operated by) a user (e.g., an end user of one or moreapplications and/or services provided by application server subsystem302). Examples of such devices may include, without limitation, apersonal computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, aset-top box (“STB”) device, a digital video recorder (“DVR”) device, agaming device, a portable media player device, a mobile and/or handheldcomputing device, and any other computing device configured to access aservice provided by application server subsystem 302 and/or to executeone or more software applications distributed by application serversubsystem 302, such as software applications 102 included in suite 100.

Application server subsystem 302 and user computing device 304 maycommunicate using any suitable remote communications technologies,including any remote communications technologies capable of supportingdistribution of software applications by application server subsystem302 to user computing device 304. Examples of such communicationtechnologies include, without limitation, Global System for MobileCommunications (“GSM”) technologies, Long Term Evolution (“LTE”)technologies, Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) technologies, TimeDivision Multiple Access (“TDMA”) technologies, Evolution Data OptimizedProtocol (“EVDO”) (e.g., “1×EVDO”), radio frequency (“RF”) signalingtechnologies, radio transmission technologies (e.g., One Times RadioTransmission Technology (“1×RTT”)), Transmission Control Protocol(“TCP”), Internet Protocol (“IP”), Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”),Real-Time Transport Protocol (“RTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”),Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure(“HTTPS”), Ethernet, wireless communications technologies, othersuitable communications technologies, and any combination orsub-combination thereof.

Application server subsystem 302 may distribute, and user computingdevice 304 may access, software applications 102 by way of network 306.Network 306 may include any network or combination of networks providedby one or more appropriately configured network devices (andcommunication links thereto) and over which communications and data(e.g., software application data) may be transported between applicationserver subsystem 302 and user computing device 304. For example, network306 may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone network (e.g., acellular phone network, a 3G network, a 4G network, etc.), a satellitemedia network (e.g., a broadcasting network, a terrestrial mediabroadcasting network, etc.), a media content distribution network (e.g.,a subscriber television network, a media broadcasting, multicasting,and/or narrowcasting network, etc.), a telecommunications network, theInternet, a wide area network, any other network capable of transportingcommunications and data between application server subsystem 302 anduser computing device 304, and/or any combination or sub-combinationthereof.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, software applications 102 includedin suite 100 have been published to application server subsystem 302 fordistribution by application server subsystem 302 over network 306.Application server subsystem 302 stores data representative of thesoftware applications 102 and is configured to transmit datarepresentative of the software applications 102 over network 306 foraccess (e.g., download) by user computing device 304.

User computing device 304 may be configured to access any of thesoftware applications 102 from application server subsystem 302 by wayof network 306. For example, user computing device 304 may be configuredto download any of the software applications 102 from application serversubsystem 302 by way of network 306, install the downloaded softwareapplication(s) 102 on user computing device 304, and execute theinstalled software application(s) 102 on user computing device 304. Inthe specific example illustrated in FIG. 3, software applications 102-1,102-2, 102-3, and 102-4 are available for download from applicationserver subsystem 302, and user computing device 304 has downloaded andinstalled software applications 102-1, 102-2 and 102-3, but not softwareapplication 102-4.

A software application, such as a software application 102 included insuite 100, may include a structured hierarchy of menus. For example, thesoftware application may include a tiered hierarchy of menus, and eachmenu in the hierarchy may include one or more user selectable menuoptions. The menu hierarchy may provide a user with structure fornavigating menus and selecting menu options and correspondingfunctionality of the software application.

To illustrate, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary software application 102 thatincludes an application menu hierarchy 400 having a plurality of tieredmenu levels 402 (e.g., primary menu level 402-1, secondary menu level402-2, and tertiary menu level 402-3). Menu levels 402 may behierarchically related one to another. For example, primary menu level402-1 may be a first menu level (e.g., a top menu level) within asoftware application 102, secondary menu level 402-2 may be a secondmenu level directly below primary menu level 402-1, and tertiary menulevel 402-3 may be a third menu level directly below secondary menulevel 402-2 within application menu hierarchy 400.

The number and/or relationships of menu levels 402 shown in FIG. 4 areillustrative only. Additional, fewer, and/or alternative menu levels andrelationships between menu levels may be included in application menuhierarchy 400 in other examples.

Each menu level 402 may include one or more application menus, and eachapplication menu may include one or more menu options. To illustrate,FIG. 4 further shows exemplary application menus 404 (e.g., applicationmenus 404-1, 404-2, and 404-3) associated with respective menu levels402 (e.g., menu levels 402-1, 402-2, and 402-3). As shown, primary menulevel 402-1 may include application menu 404-1, secondary menu level402-2 may include application menu 404-2, and tertiary menu level 402-3may include application menu 404-3.

Each of the application menus 404 may include a set of one or more menuoptions. In the example shown in FIG. 4, application menu 404-1 includesa set of menu options 406 (e.g., menu options 406-1 through 406-X),application menu 404-2 includes a set of menu options 408 (e.g., menuoptions 408-1 through 408-Y), and application menu 404-3 includes a setof menu options 410 (e.g., menu options 410-1 through 410-Z).

A menu option, such as any of the menu options shown in FIG. 4, may beassociated with a particular function of software application 102.Examples of such functions may include accessing digital content (e.g.,media content) associated with a menu option, accessing an applicationmenu associated with a menu option (e.g., an application menu that is asubmenu of the selected menu option), linking to another softwareapplication, and/or any other functions of a software application.

Application menus 404 may be hierarchically related one to another inany suitable way. For example, application menu 404-2 may be a submenuof a menu option 406 included in application menu 404-1. In FIG. 4,arrow 412 indicates that application menu 404-2 is a submenu of menuoption 406-2. Accordingly, in response to a user selection of menuoption 406-2 of application menu 404-1, application menu 404-2 may beaccessed by software application 102. In addition, arrow 414 in FIG. 4indicates that application menu 404-3 is a submenu of menu option 408-1of application menu 404-2. Accordingly, in response to a user selectionof menu option 408-1 of application menu 404-2, application menu 404-3may be accessed by software application 102. By selecting menu option406-2 in application menu 404-1 and then menu option 408-1 inapplication menu 404-2, a user of a computing device executing softwareapplication 102 may drill down through hierarchical menu levels 404 toaccess application menu 404-3.

The relationship between application menus 404 and menu options of theapplication menus 404 described above is illustrative only. Additionaland/or alternative relationships between application menus 404 and menuoptions of the application menus 404 may be used in other examples. Forexample, additional application menus within secondary menu level 402-2may be submenus of one or more other menu options 406 included inapplication menu 404-1, and additional application menus within tertiarymenu level 402-3 may be submenus of one or more menu other options 408included in application menu 404-2.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, software application 102 may furtherinclude an application user interface module 104, which may beconfigured to direct a computing device executing software application102 to provide a user interface through which a user of the computingdevice may interact with software application 102, such as by navigatingapplication menus 404 and associated menu options of softwareapplication 102. For example, application user interface module 104included in software application 102 may be configured to generate a GUIand direct a computing device executing software application 102 toprovide one or more views of the GUI for display on a display screen.

Application user interface module 104 may be configured to generate andprovide GUI views for display in accordance with a GUI window framework.FIG. 5 shows a wireframe representation of an application GUI windowframework 500 (“GUI framework 500”) that may be used by application userinterface module 104 to generate application GUI views for display by acomputing device and use by a user of the computing device to interactwith software application 102. GUI framework 500 may include a pluralityof navigation control sections 502 (e.g., navigation control sections502-1, 502-2, and 502-3) respectively associated with (e.g., mapped to)multiple hierarchical menu levels 402 (e.g., menu levels 402-1, 402-2,and 402-3) of software application 102. As shown in FIG. 5, in certainexamples, navigation control section 502-1 may be mapped to primary menulevel 402-1, navigation control section 502-2 may be mapped to primarymenu level 402-2, and navigation control section 502-3 may be mapped toprimary menu level 402-3.

The mapping of navigation control sections 502 to respectivehierarchical menu levels 402 may be used by application user interfacemodule 104 to determine content to be displayed in the navigationcontrol sections 502. To illustrate, based on the mapping of navigationcontrol section 502-1 to primary menu level 402-1, application userinterface module 104 may select application menu 404-1 of primary menulevel 402-1 for display within navigation control section 502-1.Accordingly, one or more of the menu options 406 included in applicationmenu 404-1 may be represented (e.g., as a set of icons or othergraphics) within navigation control section 502-1 in a display of GUIframework 500.

One of the menu options 406 represented in navigation control section502-1 may be selected by way of a default selection by application userinterface module 104 (e.g., a default selection of a first-listed menuoption when application menu 404-1 is launched within navigation controlsection 502-1), by way of a user selection provided through a GUI viewof GUI framework 500, or by way of any other suitable menu optionselection event. For example, menu option 406-2 may be selected withinnavigation control section 502-1 in any of the ways described above.

In response to a selection of menu option 406-2 in navigation controlsection 502-1 and based on a mapping of navigation control section 502-2to secondary menu level 402-2, a submenu of menu option 406-2 that isincluded in secondary menu level 402-2 may be selected by applicationuser interface module 104 for display within navigation control section502-2. For example, application menu 404-2 may be a submenu of selectedmenu option 406-2, and application user interface module 104 may selectapplication menu 404-2 for display within navigation control section502-2. Accordingly, one or more of the menu options 408 included inapplication menu 404-2 may be represented (e.g., as a set of icons orother graphics) within navigation control section 502-2 in a display ofa GUI view of GUI framework 500.

In certain examples, one of the menu options 408 represented innavigation control section 502-2 may be selected in any of the waysdescribed above. For example, menu option 408-1 may be selected withinnavigation control section 502-2 in any of the ways described above.

In response to a selection of menu option 408-1 in navigation controlsection 502-2 and based on a mapping of navigation control section 502-3to tertiary menu level 402-3, a submenu of menu option 408-1 that isincluded in tertiary menu level 402-3 may be selected by applicationuser interface module 104 for display within navigation control section502-3. For example, application menu 404-3 may be a submenu of selectedmenu option 408-1, and application user interface module 104 may selectapplication menu 404-3 for display within navigation control section502-3. Accordingly, one or more of the menu options 410 included inapplication menu 404-3 may be represented (e.g., as a set of icons orother graphics) within navigation control section 502-3 in a display ofa GUI view of GUI framework 500.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary wireframe GUI view 600 of GUI framework500. As shown, GUI view 600 may include sets of graphics displayedwithin navigation control sections 502. The sets of graphics mayrepresent sets of menu options of respective application menus. In theillustrated example, navigation control section 502-1 may include afirst set 602-1 of graphics that represent menu options of a firstapplication menu (e.g., application menu 404-1), navigation controlsection 502-2 may include a second set 602-2 of graphics that representmenu options of a second application menu (e.g., application menu404-2), and navigation control section 502-3 may include a third set602-3 of graphics that represent menu options of a third applicationmenu (e.g., application menu 404-3).

Navigation control sections 502 may be concurrently included GUIframework 500. Accordingly, a GUI view, such as GUI view 600, generatedin accordance with GUI framework 600 may include navigation controlsections 502 displayed concurrently within the GUI view 600.Accordingly, multiple hierarchical menu levels 402 associated with thenavigation control sections 502 may be concurrently represented in thedisplayed GUI view 600. The concurrent representation of multiplehierarchical menu levels 402 in a single displayed GUI view 600 may besaid to “flatten out” the hierarchical menu levels 402 within GUI view600 at least because a user interacting with GUI view 600 is notrequired to navigate away from one of the menu levels 402 and/or GUIview 600 in order to navigate to another of the menu levels 402. Forexample, the user is able to drill up and down the hierarchical menulevels 402 within a single GUI view 600 and without having to leave theGUI view 600. This may facilitate a user having a convenient, intuitive,and/or usable experience navigating hierarchical menu levels 402 ofsoftware application 102.

One or more of navigation control sections 502 may be in the form oflinear navigational control bars. In certain examples, for instance,navigation control section 502-1 may be in the form of a linear footerbar displayed at or near the bottom of GUI framework 500, navigationcontrol section 502-2 may be in the form of a linear header bardisplayed at or near the top of GUI framework 500, and navigationcontrol section 502-3 may be displayed between navigation controlsection 502-1 and navigation control section 502-2 in GUI framework 500,such as is shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, menu options 406 of applicationmenu 404-1 associated with primary menu level 402-1 may be representedwithin a footer bar, menu options 408 of application menu 404-2associated with secondary menu level 402-2 may be represented within aheader bar, and menu options 410 of application menu 404-3 associatedwith tertiary menu level 402-3 may be represented within an areapositioned between the footer bar and the header bar.

Exemplary GUI window views that may be generated in accordance with GUIframework 500 and provided by application user interface module 104 ofsoftware application 102 for display on a display screen associated witha user computing device will now be described in reference to FIGS.7-11.

FIG. 7 illustrates user computing device 304 displaying an applicationGUI view 700 on a display screen of user computing device 304 asdirected by application user interface module 104 of softwareapplication 102. For purposes of the illustrated example, softwareapplication 102 is a mobile remote software application being executedby computing device 304 and configured to provide, by way of GUI view700, a user of computing device 304 with mobile access to and/or controlof features associated with a subscriber television service (e.g., asubscriber home television service known as “FiOS”) to which the usersubscribes.

The mobile remote software application includes a plurality ofapplication menus structured into at least a primary menu level, asecondary menu level, and a tertiary menu level, such as describedabove. The primary menu level of the mobile remote software applicationmay include a primary-level application menu (“primary applicationmenu”) having a set of menu options that may include selectable menuoptions such as a “watch list” option, an “on demand” option, a “mylibrary” option, a “live TV” option, a “DVR” option, a “TV listings”option, and a “settings” option, each of which may be configured to beselected to initiate access to an application submenu that is associatedwith the selected option and that is part of the secondary menu level ofthe mobile remote software application.

At least a subset of the set of options of the primary application menumay be graphically represented within a primary navigation controlsection 702-1 in GUI view 700. In the illustrated example, primarynavigation control section 702-1 is in the form of a footer barpositioned at the bottom of the display screen of computing device 304.As shown, the “on-demand,” “my library,” “live TV,” and “DVR” options ofthe primary application menu may be represented by a set of graphicswithin the footer bar. As further shown, the “live TV” option ishighlighted to indicate that the “live TV” option is the currentlyselected option of the primary application menu.

In response to a selection of the “live TV” option in the footer bar,application user interface module 104 may identify, from the applicationmenu structure of the mobile remote software application, asecondary-level application menu (“secondary application menu”) of themobile remote software application that is associated with the “live TV”option (e.g., is a submenu of the “live TV” option).

The identified secondary application menu may include a set of one ormore menu options. If the secondary application menu includes only asingle menu option, application user interface module 104 may representthe single menu option as a title in a secondary navigation controlsection 702-2 in GUI view 700. To illustrate, the secondary applicationmenu may include only a single “live TV” option, which may berepresented as a “live TV” title in secondary navigation control section702-2 in GUI view 700. In FIG. 7, for example, secondary navigationcontrol section 702-2 is in the form of a header bar positioned at thetop of the display screen of computing device 304 and that includes thetitle “live TV” to represent the single menu option of secondarynavigation control section 702-2. An example of secondary applicationmenu including a set of multiple menu options represented in secondarynavigation control section 702-2 is described further below.

In response to the identification of the secondary application menu thatincludes only the single “live TV” menu option for use to populate theheader bar in GUI 700, application user interface module 104 mayidentify, from the application menu structure of the mobile remotesoftware application, a tertiary-level application menu (“tertiaryapplication menu”) of the mobile remote software application that isassociated with the “live TV” option of the secondary application menu(e.g., is a submenu of the “live TV” option of the secondary applicationmenu).

The identified tertiary application menu may include a set of one ormore menu options. For example, the menu options included in thetertiary application menu may include live television programs that areaccessible by the user of computing device 304 based on a usersubscription to a subscriber television service.

At least a subset of the set of menu options of the tertiary applicationmenu may be graphically represented within a tertiary navigation controlsection 702-3 in GUI view 700. In the illustrated example, tertiarynavigation control section 702-3 is positioned between the footer barand the header bar described above and includes a set of graphicsrepresenting menu options included in the tertiary application menu. Asshown, the menu options represented in tertiary navigation controlsection 702-3 may include live television programs. In GUI view 700 ofFIG. 7, for example, a live television program titled “Live! with Kelly”is represented by a cover art image and title of the live televisionprogram, as well as by a channel logo for a content provider providingthe live television program. The user of computing device 304 may selecta graphic representing a live television program in tertiary navigationcontrol section 702-3 in order to request access to the live televisionprogram. In response to the selection, computing device 304 may accessand present the live television program for experiencing by the user.

Referring again to the primary navigation control section 702-1illustrated in FIG. 7, the user of computing device 304 may provideinput, by way of the primary navigation control section 702-1 displayedin GUI view 700, to select a different menu option included in theprimary application menu. The user input may be provided by the user andreceived by computing device 304 in any suitable way. For example, thedisplay screen of computing device 304 may comprise a touch screendisplay, and the user may touch a displayed graphic that representsanother menu option in order to select that menu option.

To illustrate, within primary navigation control section 702-1 shown inFIG. 7, the user may select the “DVR” option of the primary applicationmenu. In response, application user interface module 104 may highlightthe graphic representing the “DVR” option to indicate the selection ofthe “DVR” option and update the content included in secondary navigationcontrol section 702-2 and tertiary navigation control section 702-3based on the selection.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary GUI view 800 that may be displayed onthe display screen of computing device 304 when the “DVR” option of theprimary application menu represented in primary navigation controlsection 702-1 is selected. As shown, a graphic representing the “DVR”option is highlighted, and secondary navigation control section 702-2now includes graphics representing menu options of an application menuthat is associated with secondary menu level 402-2 of softwareapplication 102 and that is a submenu of the selected “DVR” option. Inthe illustrated example, the menu options represented in secondarynavigation control section 702-2 include a “schedule” menu option and a“recorded” menu option. Thus, FIG. 8 illustrates an example in whichsecondary navigation control section 702-2 in the form of a linearheader bar includes graphics representing multiple menu options of asecondary application menu associated with secondary menu level 402-2.When the “recorded” menu option is selected, tertiary navigation controlsection 702-3 includes graphics representing menu options thatcorrespond to recorded media programs (e.g., recordings of episodes oftelevision programs titled “The Office,” “Modern Family,” and GeneralHospital”), as shown in FIG. 8. When the “schedule” menu option isselected in secondary navigation control section 702-2, tertiarynavigation control section 702-3 may be updated to instead includegraphics representing menu options that correspond to scheduledrecordings of media programs.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, primary navigation control section 702-1 andsecondary navigation control section 702-2 may be in the form of linear,horizontally oriented, navigation control bars. Each bar may include alinearly arranged row of graphics representing menu options of anapplication menu. In the illustrated examples, primary navigationcontrol section 702-1 is in the form of a linear footer bar, andsecondary navigation control section 702-2 is in the form of a linearheader bar.

In certain examples, primary navigation control section 702-1 mayinclude a slidable segment 802 and a fixed segment 804. Fixed segment804 will be described further below. As shown in FIG. 8, slidablesegment 802 may include graphics representing menu options of a primaryapplication menu. The menu options represented in slidable segment 802may be only a subset of the menu options of the primary applicationmenu. To bring other menu options not currently represented in slidablesegment 802, a user of user computing device 304 may provide input tocause slidable segment 802 to slide to the left or right to bringgraphics representing other menu options on screen in slidable segment802. More specifically, the user input may cause the graphicsrepresenting menu options to scroll to the left or right such that adifferent subset of menu options is represented in slidable segment 802.The user input may be in any suitable form. For example, the user mayperform an on-screen touch gesture (e.g., a swipe to the left or right)to cause a sliding/scrolling action to be performed by application userinterface module 104.

To illustrate one example, while GUI view 800 is displayed as shown inFIG. 8, the user of user computing device 304 may provide inputconfigured to cause graphics within slidable segment 802 to slide fromright to left across the display screen. In response, application userinterface module 104 may update the contents of slidable segment 802 torepresent a sliding of one or more of the graphics shown in FIG. 8 offscreen to the left and a sliding of one or more other graphics on screenfrom the right.

FIG. 9 illustrates a GUI view 900 that may be displayed on the displayscreen of user computing device 304 in response to user computing device304 receiving the user input described above. As shown, a new set ofgraphics representing a different subset of menu options of the primaryapplication menu are now displayed within slidable segment 802. Comparedto GUI view 800, the “on demand” option and “my library” option are nolonger represented in slidable segment 802, and a “TV listings” optionand “settings” option are now represented in slidable segment 802.

Slidable segment 802 may provide flexibility and/or scalability todevelopers of GUIs and users of user computing device 304. For example,the number of menu options that may be associated with a primaryapplication menu is not limited to only the number of menu options thatcan be concurrently represented on screen within a footer bar and, thus,not dependent on display screen attributes (e.g., screen size and/orresolution). Rather, any number of menu options may be included in aprimary application menu, and slidable segment 802 may provide aflexible, intuitive, and convenient tool for use by a user of usercomputing device 304 to navigate and select from the menu optionsincluded in the primary application menu. In at least this respect, thesliding capability of slidable segment 802 of primary navigation controlsection 702-1 may support the flattening of a menu hierarchy of asoftware application (e.g., menu hierarchy 400 of software application102) within a single GUI view, such as described above.

In certain examples, application user interface module 104 may beconfigured to display one or more graphics in slidable segment 802 toindicate an availability and/or direction of one or more off-screen menuoptions included in the primary application menu. In FIG. 9, forexample, an arrow indicator 902 is displayed to indicate that one ormore menu options are available off screen to the left. The lack of suchan indicator within the right edge of slidable segment 802 may indicatethat the “settings” option is the right-most positioned menu option andthat no additional menu options are available off screen to the right.

FIG. 10 illustrates another exemplary GUI view 1000 that may bedisplayed on a display screen of user computing device 304. As shown, an“on demand” menu option may be selected in primary navigation controlsection 702-1, and graphics representing menu options (e.g., a “movies”option, a “TV shows” option, and a “premiums” option”) associated with asubmenu of the selected “on demand” option may be displayed in secondarynavigation control section 702-2. As further shown, a “movies” menuoption may be selected in secondary navigation control section 702-2,and graphics representing menu options (e.g., graphics representingselectable movies) associated with a submenu of the selected “movies”option may be displayed in tertiary navigation control section 702-3.

FIG. 11 illustrates another exemplary GUI view 1100 that may bedisplayed on a display screen of user computing device 304. As shown, an“on demand” menu option may be selected in primary navigation controlsection 702-1, and graphics representing menu options (e.g., a “movies”option, a “TV shows” option, and a “premiums” option”) associated with asubmenu of the selected “on demand” option may be displayed in secondarynavigation control section 702-2. As further shown, a “movies” menuoption may be selected in secondary navigation control section 702-2,and graphics representing menu options (e.g., graphics representingselectable movies) associated with a submenu of the selected “movies”option may be displayed in tertiary navigation control section 702-3.

In tertiary navigation control section 702-3, graphics representingselectable movies may be arranged in any suitable way, such as in rowsby category of the movies as illustrated in GUI view 1100. As shown, GUIview 1100 may include a first row 1102-1 of graphics that represent“featured” movies and a second row 1102-2 of graphics that representmovies that are “new releases.” Additional and/or alternative rowcategories may be displayed in other examples. In some examples, eachrow 1102 may be independently slidable to the right and/or left (e.g.,to scroll the graphics representing the movies to the right or left). Insome examples, a user selection of a category row or a graphicrepresenting a movie in tertiary navigation control section 702-3 maycause application user interface module 104 to update the contents oftertiary navigation control section 702-3 to include a full section viewof graphics representing movies included in the category associated withthe selected movie. For example, a user may select the “featured” movierow or a movie included in the “featured” movie row, and in responseapplication user interface module 104 may update tertiary navigationcontrol section 702-3 to include a full section view of graphicsrepresenting “featured” movies.

Referring again to FIG. 8, fixed segment 804 of primary navigationcontrol section 702-1 may provide a persistent link from the softwareapplication 102 that is executing on and directing user computing device304 to display GUI view 800 to another software application 102 includedin suite 100. For example, fixed segment 804 may include a graphicrepresenting a persistent link from a “destination” application to an“umbrella” application in suite 100. In the illustrated example, fixedsegment 804 includes a graphic visually indicating a persistent link toan “umbrella” application titled “My FiOS.”

To further illustrate, software application 102-3 may be a mobile remotesoftware application executing on user computing device 304 anddirecting user computing device 304 to display GUI view 800 on thedisplay screen of user computing device 304. From GUI view 800, the userof user computing device 304 may select the persistent link representedin fixed segment 804. In response, software application 102-3 may linkto software application 102-1, which may be an “umbrella” application insuite 100, by directing user computing device 304 to launch softwareapplication 102-1. In this manner, the user may conveniently accesssoftware application 102-1 from software application 102-3 (or fromother “destination” software applications 102-1 and 102-3 included insuite 100).

The link represented in fixed segment 804 may be persistent for one ormore reasons. As an example, fixed segment 804 may be a fixed feature ofany GUI view and/or all GUI views displayed as directed by a“destination” software application included in suite 100. Additionallyor alternatively, fixed segment 804 may have a fixed position across theGUI views of the “destination” applications included in suite 100.Accordingly, from any navigational menu or location within a menuhierarchy of a “destination” application and/or from any GUI viewprovided by a “destination” software application included in suite 100,a user of user computing device 304 may conveniently access the“umbrella” software application by selecting (e.g., with a single input)the persistent link represented in fixed segment 804.

The “umbrella” application in suite 100 may include links to the“destination” applications in suite 100. Such links may be presented inany suitable manner for user selection in GUI views displayed by usercomputing device 304 as directed by the “umbrella” application. Forexample, software application 102-1 may direct user computing device 304to display a GUI view having user interface elements arranged inaccordance with GUI framework 500. One or more of the menu optionsrepresented in any of the navigation control sections 502 of the GUIview may be configured to function as a link to one of the “destination”software applications 102-2, 102-3, or 102-3. Accordingly, softwareapplication 102-1 may function as a link farm through which the user mayaccess the “destination” software applications 102-2, 102-3, or 102-3.

In certain implementations, the “umbrella” application may implementwidgets associated with one or more of the “destination” applicationsincluded in suite 100. For example, a GUI view provided as directed bythe “umbrella” application may include one or more rows within atertiary navigation control section 502-3. Each row may be associatedwith a respective “destination” application and may include one or morewidgets that implement and/or provide access to one or more functionsand/or menus of the “destination” application.

In certain examples, software applications 102 included in suite 100 maybe configured to preserve state. Accordingly, in some examples, linkingfrom one software application to another software application in suite100 may link to the last preserved state of the other softwareapplication. If a preserved state is not available for a softwareapplication being linked to, a default landing page or default state ofthe software application may be linked to.

While certain examples of GUI views described herein are directed to GUIviews for a particular software application, this is illustrative only.Any of software applications 102 included in suite 100 may be configuredto provide GUI views in accordance with a common GUI framework, such asGUI framework 500. In certain examples, all of the software applications102, or at least all of the “destination” software applications,included in suite 100 may be configured to provide GUI views inaccordance with GUI framework 500. This may provide consistency and/oruniformity across the suite 100 of software applications 102, which mayfacilitate quality user experiences. Any of the exemplary GUI viewsillustrated herein may be a landing page of a software application ormay be a deeper page of the software application.

While certain examples of GUI window frameworks and GUI views describedherein are directed to a GUI window framework in which a firstnavigation control section is in the form of a footer bar, a secondnavigation control section is in the form of a header bar, and a thirdnavigation control section is positioned between the footer bar and theheader bar, these examples are illustrative only. The navigation controlsections may be arranged in accordance with another GUI window frameworkin other examples. For example, first and/or second navigation controlsections may be in the form of vertical columns along left and/or rightedges of a GUI window. In certain examples, for instance, any elementsof an exemplary footer bar described herein may be elements of aleft-edge or right-edge column.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary application user interface method 1200.While FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary steps according to one embodiment,other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, combine, and/or modify anyof the steps shown in FIG. 12. One or more of the steps shown in FIG. 12may be performed by an application user interface module 104, a softwareapplication implementing an application user interface module 104,and/or a user computing device as directed by an application userinterface module 104 and/or a software application implementing anapplication user interface module 104. In certain examples, one or moreof the step shown in FIG. 12 may be repeated.

In step 1202, a user computing device executes a software application(e.g., a software application installed on the user computing device)that includes an application menu hierarchy comprising a primary menulevel, a secondary menu level, and a tertiary menu level, such asdescribed herein.

In step 1204, the user computing device provides, for display asdirected by the software application, a GUI window view that includes afirst navigation control section mapped to the primary menu level, asecond navigation control section mapped to the secondary menu level,and a third navigation control section mapped to the tertiary menulevel. Step 1204 may be performed in any of the ways described herein,and the GUI window view may include an exemplary GUI view illustratedherein.

In step 1206, the user computing device provides graphics that representmenu options of the software application for display in one of thenavigation control sections. For example, the user computing device mayprovide, for display in the first navigation control section, a set ofgraphics that represent a set of menu options of an application menuassociated with the primary menu level of the software application.

In step 1208, the user computing device detects a selection of one ofthe menu options in the navigation control section. For example, theuser computing device may detect, in the first navigation controlsection, a selection of a menu option included in the set of menuoptions represented by the set of graphics in the first navigationcontrol section.

In step 1210, the user computing device provides graphics that representsubmenu options of the selected menu option for display in another oneof the navigation control sections. For example, the user computingdevice may provide, for display in the second navigation controlsection, a second set of graphics that represent a second set of menuoptions of a second application menu associated with the secondary menulevel of the software application. The second set of menu options may besubmenu options of the menu option selected in the first navigationcontrol section in step 1208. In some examples, step 1210 may beperformed in response to the detection of the selection in step 1208.

In some examples, steps 1208 and 1210 may be repeated, for example, todetect a selection of a menu option included in the second navigationcontrol section and to provide graphics that represent submenu optionsof the selected menu option for display in a third navigation controlsection.

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary application user interface method1300. While FIG. 13 illustrates exemplary steps according to oneembodiment, other embodiments may omit, add to, reorder, combine, and/ormodify any of the steps shown in FIG. 13. One or more of the steps shownin FIG. 13 may be performed by an application user interface module 104,a software application implementing an application user interface module104, and/or a user computing device as directed by an application userinterface module 104 and/or a software application implementing anapplication user interface module 104. In certain examples, one or moreof the step shown in FIG. 13 may be repeated.

In step 1302, a user computing device executes a software application(e.g., a software application installed on the user computing device)that is included in a suite of software applications, such as describedherein.

In step 1304, the user computing device provides, for display asdirected by the software application, a GUI window view that includes anavigation control bar comprising a slidable segment and a fixedsegment. Step 1304 may be performed in any of the ways described herein,and the GUI window view may include an exemplary GUI view illustratedherein.

In step 1306, the user computing device provides graphics that representmenu options of the software application for display in the slidablesegment of the navigation control bar. For example, the user computingdevice may provide, for display in the slidable segment of thenavigation control bar, a set of graphics that represent a set of menuoptions of an application menu associated with the software application(e.g., an application menu associated with a primary menu level of thesoftware application).

In step 1308, the user computing device provides, for display in thefixed portion of the navigation control bar, a graphic that represents apersistent selectable link to an additional software applicationincluded in the suite of software applications. For example, the graphicmay represent a persistent selectable link from a destination softwareapplication to an umbrella software application in a suite of softwareapplications, such as described herein.

In step 1310, the user computing device detects a selection of thepersistent selectable link in the fixed segment of the navigationcontrol bar. For example, the user computing device may detect a userselection of the link.

In step 1312, the user computing device launches, in response to theselection of the persistent selectable link, the additional softwareapplication included in the suite of software applications, such asdescribed herein.

One or more steps of method 1200 and one or more steps of method 1300may be combined in other exemplary user interface methods.

In certain embodiments, one or more of the processes described hereinmay be implemented at least in part as instructions embodied in anon-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by one or morecomputing devices. In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor)receives instructions, from a non-transitory computer-readable medium,(e.g., a memory, etc.), and executes those instructions, therebyperforming one or more processes, including one or more of the processesdescribed herein. Such instructions may be stored and/or transmittedusing any of a variety of known computer-readable media.

A computer-readable medium (also referred to as a processor-readablemedium) includes any non-transitory medium that participates inproviding data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer(e.g., by a processor of a computer). Such a medium may take many forms,including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, and/or volatilemedia. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical or magneticdisks and other persistent memory. Volatile media may include, forexample, dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), which typicallyconstitutes a main memory. Common forms of computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any othermagnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, a RAM, a PROM,an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or anyother tangible medium from which a computer can read.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary computing device 1400 that may beconfigured to perform one or more of the processes described herein. Asshown in FIG. 14, computing device 1400 may include a communicationinterface 1402, a processor 1404, a storage device 1406, and aninput/output (“I/O”) module 1408 communicatively connected via acommunication infrastructure 1410. While an exemplary computing device1400 is shown in FIG. 14, the components illustrated in FIG. 14 are notintended to be limiting. Additional or alternative components may beused in other embodiments. Components of computing device 1400 shown inFIG. 14 will now be described in additional detail.

Communication interface 1402 may be configured to communicate with oneor more computing devices. Examples of communication interface 1402include, without limitation, a wired network interface (such as anetwork interface card), a wireless network interface (such as awireless network interface card), a modem, an audio/video connection,and any other suitable interface.

Processor 1404 generally represents any type or form of processing unitcapable of processing data or interpreting, executing, and/or directingexecution of one or more of the instructions, processes, and/oroperations described herein. Processor 1404 may execute and/or directexecution of operations as directed by one or more applications 1412(which may include one or more software applications 102 included insuite 100) or other computer-executable instructions such as may bestored in storage device 1406 or another computer-readable medium.

Storage device 1406 may include one or more data storage media, devices,or configurations and may employ any type, form, and combination of datastorage media and/or device. For example, storage device 1406 mayinclude, but is not limited to, a hard drive, network drive, flashdrive, magnetic disc, optical disc, random access memory (“RAM”),dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), other non-volatile and/or volatile data storageunits, or a combination or sub-combination thereof. Electronic data,including data described herein, may be temporarily and/or permanentlystored in storage device 1406. For example, data representative of oneor more executable applications 1412 configured to direct processor 1404to perform any of the operations described herein may be stored withinstorage device 1406. In some examples, data may be arranged in one ormore databases residing within storage device 1406.

I/O module 1408 may be configured to receive user input and provide useroutput and may include any hardware, firmware, software, or combinationthereof supportive of input and output capabilities. For example, I/Omodule 1408 may include hardware and/or software for capturing userinput, including, but not limited to, a keyboard or keypad, a touchscreen component (e.g., touch screen display), a receiver (e.g., an RFor infrared receiver), and/or one or more input buttons.

I/O module 1408 may include one or more devices for presenting output toa user, including, but not limited to, a graphics engine, a display(e.g., a display screen, one or more output drivers (e.g., displaydrivers), one or more audio speakers, and one or more audio drivers. Incertain embodiments, I/O module 1408 is configured to provide graphicaldata to a display for presentation to a user. The graphical data may berepresentative of one or more GUI views and/or any other graphicalcontent as may serve a particular implementation.

In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. Forexample, certain features of one embodiment described herein may becombined with or substituted for features of another embodimentdescribed herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: executing, by a usercomputing device, one of a plurality of software applications includedin a suite of software applications developed by a single serviceprovider and installed on the user computing device, the suite ofsoftware applications comprising a destination software application, anadditional destination software application, and an umbrella softwareapplication that provides links to the destination software applicationand the additional destination software application, the one of theplurality of software applications including an application menuhierarchy that comprises a primary menu level, a secondary menu level,and a tertiary menu level; providing, by the user computing device todisplay as directed by the one of the plurality of softwareapplications, a graphical user interface window view that includes afirst navigation control section in the form of a footer bar mapped tothe primary menu level, a second navigation control section in the formof a header bar mapped to the secondary menu level, and a thirdnavigation control section positioned between the footer bar and theheader bar and mapped to the tertiary menu level; wherein the footer barcomprises a fixed segment that includes a persistent link selectable bya user to launch the umbrella software application included in the suiteof software applications, wherein the persistent link is provided at afixed position within the footer bar regardless of which softwareapplication included in the suite of software applications is currentlyexecuted by the user computing device, and a slidable segment thatincludes a first set of graphics that represent a first set of menuoptions associated with the one of the plurality of softwareapplications and included in a first application menu associated withthe primary menu level, each graphic included in the first set ofgraphics linearly aligned, within the footer bar, with the persistentlink and with each other graphic included in the first set of graphics,the first set of graphics scrollable as a whole within the slidablesegment; detecting, by the user computing device and within the footerbar, a user selection of a menu option included in the first set of menuoptions included in the first application menu associated with theprimary menu level; providing, by the user computer device to displaywithin the header bar and in response to the detecting of the userselection of the menu option, a second set of graphics that represent asecond set of menu options included in a second application menuassociated with the secondary menu level; detecting, by the usercomputing device, a user selection of the persistent link in the fixedsegment of the footer bar; linking, by the computing device in responseto the user selection of the persistent link and when the one of theplurality of software applications executing is the destination softwareapplication, the destination software application to the umbrellasoftware application by launching the umbrella software applicationincluded in the suite of software applications; and providing, by theuser computing device to display within the third navigation controlsection and in response to the detecting of the user selection of thepersistent link, the graphical user interface window view that includesa first row of graphics representing a plurality of menu optionsassociated with the destination software application included in thesuite of software applications and a second row of graphics representinga plurality of menu options associated with the additional destinationsoftware application included in the suite of software applications. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the second application menu is a submenuof the menu option selected within the footer bar.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising providing, by the user computing device todisplay within the third navigation control section, a third set ofgraphics that represent a third set of menu options included in a thirdapplication menu associated with the tertiary menu level.
 4. The methodof claim 3, further comprising: detecting, by the user computing deviceand within the header bar, a selection of a menu option included in thesecond set of menu options included in the second application menuassociated with the secondary menu level; wherein the providing of thethird set of graphics that represent the third set of menu optionsincluded in the third application menu is performed in response to thedetecting of the selection of the menu option within the header bar. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the third application menu is a submenuof the menu option selected within the header bar.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the user computing device comprises a mobile usercomputing device; and the one of the plurality of software applicationscomprises one of a media manager application, a remote digital videorecorder (“DVR”) application, and a home control application.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, embodied as computer-executable instructions on atleast one non-transitory computer-readable medium.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: detecting, by the user computing device, auser input associated with the slidable segment; and scrolling, by theuser computing device based on the detected user input, the first set ofgraphics such that the first set of graphics is replaced, within theslidable segment, with an additional set of graphics that represent anadditional set of menu options associated with the destination softwareapplication.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of menuoptions associated with the destination application include a firstplurality of widgets that each provide access to at least one of afunction and a menu of the destination application; and the plurality ofmenu options associated with the additional destination applicationinclude a second plurality of widgets that each provide access to atleast one of a function and a menu of the additional destinationapplication.
 10. A method comprising: executing, by a user computingdevice, one of a plurality of software applications included in a suiteof software applications developed by a single service provider andinstalled on the user computing device, wherein the suite of softwareapplications comprises a destination software application, an additionaldestination software application, and an umbrella software applicationthat provides links to the destination software application and theadditional destination software application; providing, by the usercomputing device to display as directed by the one of the plurality ofsoftware applications, a graphical user interface window view thatincludes a first navigation control bar comprising a slidable segmentand a fixed segment, a second navigation control bar, and a navigationcontrol section; providing, by the user computing device to displaywithin the slidable segment of the first navigation control bar, a setof graphics that represent a set of selectable menu options associatedwith the one of the plurality of software applications, the set ofgraphics scrollable as a whole within the slidable segment; providing,by the user computing device to display within the fixed segment of thefirst navigation control bar, a graphic that represents a persistentlink selectable by a user to launch the umbrella software applicationincluded in the suite of software applications, wherein the graphic thatrepresents the persistent link is provided to display at a fixedposition within the fixed segment regardless of which softwareapplication included in the suite of software applications is currentlyexecuted by the user computing device; wherein the providing of the setof graphics that represent the set of selectable menu options associatedwith the one of the plurality of software applications includes linearlyaligning, within the first navigation control bar, each graphic includedin the set of graphics provided within the slidable segment with eachother graphic included in the set of graphics provided within theslidable segment and with the graphic that represents the persistentlink provided within the fixed segment; detecting, by the user computingdevice and within the slidable segment, a user selection of a menuoption included in the set of selectable menu options associated withthe one of the plurality of software applications; providing, by theuser computer device to display within the second navigation control barand in response to the detecting of the user selection of the menuoption, an additional set of graphics that represent an additional setof selectable menu options associated with the one of the plurality ofsoftware applications; detecting, by the user computing device, a userselection of the persistent link in the fixed segment of the firstnavigation control bar when the one of the plurality of softwareapplications executing is the destination software application; linking,by the user computing device and in response to the detecting of theuser selection of the persistent link, the destination softwareapplication to the umbrella software application by launching theumbrella software application; and providing, by the user computingdevice to display within the navigation control section in response tothe detecting of the user selection of the persistent link, thegraphical user interface window view that includes a first row ofgraphics representing a plurality of menu options associated with thedestination software application and a second row of graphicsrepresenting a plurality of menu options associated with the additionaldestination software application.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereinthe first navigation control bar is a footer bar within the graphicaluser interface window view.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein theadditional set of selectable menu options are submenu options of aselected menu option included in the set of selectable menu optionsrepresented by the set of graphics included in the slidable segment ofthe first navigation control bar.
 13. The method of claim 10, whereinthe second navigation control bar is a header bar within the graphicaluser interface window view.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein thenavigation control section is positioned between the first navigationcontrol bar and the second navigation control bar in the graphical userinterface window view and includes a third set of graphics thatrepresent a third set of selectable menu options associated with the oneof the plurality of software applications.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the third set of selectable menu options are submenu options ofa selected menu option included in the additional set of selectable menuoptions represented by the additional set of graphics included in thesecond navigation control bar.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein: theone of the plurality of software applications includes an applicationmenu hierarchy that comprises a primary menu level, a secondary menulevel, and a tertiary menu level; the first navigation control bar ismapped to the primary menu level; the second navigation control bar ismapped to the secondary menu level; and the navigation control sectionpositioned between the first navigation control bar and the secondnavigation control bar is mapped to the tertiary menu level.
 17. Themethod of claim 10, embodied as computer-executable instructions on atleast one non-transitory computer-readable medium.
 18. A methodcomprising: executing, by a user computing device, one of a plurality ofsoftware applications installed on the user computing device andincluding an application menu hierarchy that comprises a primary menulevel, a secondary menu level, and a tertiary menu level, the one of theplurality of software applications included in a suite of softwareapplications developed by a single service provider, wherein the suiteof software applications comprises a destination software application,an additional destination software application, and an umbrella softwareapplication that provides links to the destination software applicationand the additional destination software application; providing, by theuser computing device to display as directed by the one of the pluralityof software applications, a graphical user interface window view thatincludes a first navigation control section mapped to the primary menulevel, a second navigation control section mapped to the secondary menulevel, and a third navigation control section positioned between thefirst navigation control section and the second navigation controlsection and mapped to the tertiary menu level; wherein the firstnavigation control section comprises: a slidable segment that includes aset of selectable menu options included in an application menuassociated with the primary menu level of the one of the plurality ofsoftware applications, the set of selectable menu options scrollable asa whole within the slidable segment, and a fixed segment that includes apersistent link selectable by a user to launch the umbrella softwareapplication included in the suite of software applications, wherein thepersistent link is provided at a fixed position within the fixed segmentregardless of which software application included in the suite ofsoftware applications is currently executed by the user computingdevice, wherein each menu option included in the set of selectable menuoptions included within the slidable segment is linearly aligned witheach other menu option included in the set of selectable menu optionsincluded within the slidable segment and with the persistent linkincluded within the fixed segment within the first navigation controlsection; detecting, by the user computing device and within the firstnavigation control section, a user selection of a menu option includedin the first set of selectable menu options included in the firstapplication menu associated with the primary menu level; providing, bythe user computer device to display within the second navigation controlsection and in response to the detecting of the user selection of themenu option, a second set of graphics that represent a second set ofselectable menu options included in a second application menu associatedwith the secondary menu level; detecting, by the user computing device,a user selection of the persistent link in the fixed segment of thefirst navigation control section when the one of the plurality ofsoftware applications executing is the destination software application;linking, by the user computing device and in response to the detectingof the user selection of the persistent link, the destination softwareapplication to the umbrella software application by launching theumbrella software application; and providing, by the user computingdevice to display within the third navigation control section inresponse to the detecting of the user selection of the persistent link,a graphical user interface view that includes a first row of graphicsrepresenting a plurality of menu options associated with the destinationsoftware application and a second row of graphics representing aplurality of menu options associated with the additional destinationsoftware application.
 19. A system comprising: a handheld computingdevice having an integrated display screen; a memory configured to storeone or more sets of instructions; and one or more processorscommunicatively coupled to the memory, the one or more processorsconfigured to, based on the one or more sets of instructions, direct thehandheld computing device to: execute, one of a plurality of softwareapplications included in a suite of software applications developed by asingle service provider and installed on the handheld computing device,the suite of software applications comprising a destination softwareapplication, an additional destination software application, and anumbrella software application that provides links to the destinationsoftware application and the additional destination softwareapplication, the one of the plurality of software applications includingan application menu hierarchy that comprises a primary menu level, asecondary menu level, and a tertiary menu level; display, based on theone of the plurality of software applications, on the integrated displayscreen, a graphical user interface window view that includes a firstnavigation control section mapped to the primary menu level, a secondnavigation control section mapped to the secondary menu level, and athird navigation control section positioned between the first navigationcontrol section and the second navigation control section and mapped tothe tertiary menu level; wherein the first navigation control sectioncomprises a slidable segment that includes a first set of graphics thatrepresent a first set of selectable menu options included in a firstapplication menu associated with the primary menu level of the one ofthe plurality of software applications, the first set of graphicsscrollable as a whole within the slidable segment, and a fixed segmentthat includes a graphic that represents a persistent link selectable bya user to launch the umbrella software application included in the suiteof software applications, wherein the graphic that represents thepersistent link is provided at a fixed position within the fixed segmentregardless of which software application included in the suite ofsoftware applications is currently executed by the handheld computingdevice, wherein each graphic included in the first set of graphics thatrepresent the first set of selectable menu options included within theslidable segment is linearly aligned with each other graphic included inthe first set of graphics that represent the first set of selectablemenu options included within the slidable segment and with the graphicthat represents the persistent link included within the fixed segmentwithin the first navigation control section, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to, based on the one or more sets ofinstructions, further direct the handheld computing device to: detect,within the first navigation control section, a user selection of a menuoption included in the first set of selectable menu options included inthe first application menu associated with the primary menu level;display, within the second navigation control section, a second set ofgraphics that represent a second set of menu options included in asecond application menu associated with the secondary menu level; detecta user selection of the persistent link in the fixed segment of thefirst navigation control section; link, in response to the userselection of the persistent link and when the one of the plurality ofsoftware applications executing is the destination software application,the destination software application to the umbrella softwareapplication by directing the handheld computer device to launch theumbrella software application included in the suite of softwareapplications; and display, within the third navigation control sectionin response to the user selection of the persistent link, the graphicaluser interface window view that includes a first row of graphicsrepresenting a plurality of menu options associated with the destinationsoftware application included in the suite of software applications anda second row of graphics representing a plurality of menu optionsassociated with the additional destination software application includedin the suite of software applications.